Rating: 
Summary: Strewth Beel, wot a Corker!
Review: I live in New Zealand, which most of you Amazonians will regard as being so close and similar to Australia that I'd hardly find a travel book on our Western neighbour at all novel or interesting. Not so. Australia is a weird and strange continent, a place where you can buy a bong at a gas station, where dingoes might or might not eat babies, and where the cops will call you "mate" before chucking you in the paddy wagon. This catalogue of oddities, along with the fact that Bill Bryson is the finest travel writer to ever wear a tweed jacket and look gently bewildered, convinced me to buy this book (titled "Down Under" here for some reason) as soon as it became available. And a very enjoyable book it is too. I've read a few of Bill Bryson's books; possibly all of them. His earlier sniffs at the curious underbellies of Europe and the US accompanied me as I chuckled my way around each continent. Mother Tongue and Made in America are favourites; A Walk in the Woods certainly not. In a Sunburned Country was familiarly enjoyable. I like a guy who finds everything interesting (even boring things) and I like a guy who can write about the things he finds interesting in an interesting way. I like a guy who'll drive all day to watch stomatites bubble (please go right ahead and correct my spelling.) It's a funny country, Australia. This book pretty much sums it up.
Rating: 
Summary: omission of brisbane flawed an otherwise good book
Review: bryson is witty and has some very wry observations. but a big disappointment is that he didn't visit brisbane. instead he chose to go to canberra -- by all accounts [including his own] a boring city. if it sounds as though i'm griping because bryson missed one small town that i have affection for, consider this: there are only seven major cities in australia. it's not like the USA or even europe. of these cities he visited all but brisbane. at one point he finally says that he can't make brisbane as planned. it was poor planning that got him in that trap [i repeat: canberra??]. the second half of the book lost steam and interest. it seems those pages would have been better served by covering the capital of queensland, the sunshine state, only 45 minutes away from his visit to the gold coast. he should've put forth that minor effort to round out what could have been a truly perfect book about this singularly wonderful country. but would i recommend this book? certainly.
Rating:
Summary: What a sense of humor
Review: Bill Bryson is Andy Roony junior. I love a guy who enjoys walking places and finding the humor in every aspect of life. If this don't make you smile, your too serious.
Rating:
Summary: Very accurate account of modern Australia
Review: I've been a Bryson reader for a number of years now and really looked forward to reading his impressions on Australia. His latest book gives a good understanding of what Australia is like - the immense size of the country, the isolation and hardships of the Outback, city life, the people he travelled with and their comments. Believe me, if you've ever thought about touring Down Under this book has captured modern Australia - warts and all! Bill's travel description of Oz is an "eyes wide open, tell it how it is" approach and, although some may not like derogatory comments expressed by some locals to controversial issues, that's how Australia really is today. Bill Bryson's usual well researched work presented most accurately in an entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: Bloody Beaut
Review: This book is unbelievable, considering it was written by an American/Brit. He observes Australia with the dry wit that could only really be written by a longtime Australian. Australians think they are the only ones who can appreciate this stuff, and he's beaten us at our own game. It's a magnificent book, and anyone who has any interest at all in Australia, including every single Australian, should read it immediately. I rather suspect that there are a lot of Australians, myself included, who feel slightly peeved that this book was not written by one of us. And that's all I want to say. Thanks, Bill
Rating: 
Summary: Watch out for that...!
Review: Wonderful book. For those of us who tend to be armchair travellers, Mr. Bryson does all of the research AND all of the difficult travel! And he's funny, besides. What could be better? As I read this, I could picture myself on the cross-country train, getting stranded in the desert, seeing the Big Lobster, and getting stung by something I'd regret. That, to me, is the mark of a good travelogue -- you are there. Some say they found "A Walk in the Woods" preachy, and that this book is refreshing in that it's not preachy. I'll take issue with the term elsewhere; the difference here is (as Mr. B points out) that there's no need to warn the Australians of what they could be losing -- they do a very nice job of conservation themselves, thank you. Unlike us. But that's another story. Read this book. If you want a good laugh, if you want to go to Australia, if you don't want to go to Australia. It's very definitely worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Hey Bill, how about a Nile Beer?
Review: Together with Redmond O'Hanlon, Bill Bryson has become the top travel writer in the world (Paul Theroux's books are a nightmare compared to Redso and Bill). Anyhow, what's nice about Bill is that you can imagine him walking along as he tells you the story, and somewhere you know something funny will happen. In addition to having a good time, when you are done reading you will realize that you have learned a lot on the way. This book is a wonderful introduction to Australia, so if you are planning on going there, bring this book along your Fodor's or Lonely Planet.
Rating:
Summary: Read before you go to Oz...and after
Review: I brought this book with me to read on my recent vacation in Australia and wished I had read it all before I went. Bryson has a unique way of searching out those interesting details of history, geography and the local culture that made me wish I had two months in Australia instead of two weeks. His description of Aussy sprorts, especially cricket, had me laughing out loud. By the way, his book has a kinder title in Australia.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, provided you don't take it too seriously
Review: This is the first Bryson book I've ever read, and I don't see any evidence of this author getting too big for his britches. If you want to see an example of ego run rampant, read one of Robert Hughes latest works - "Return to the Fatal Shore". Anyway, Bryson seems to be emphasising parts of Australia that even we Aussies have never heard of before. What's amazing is how Bryson can visit places and sights we take for granted, and make them seem so interesting. His sense of humour seems to be a cross between Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. He does give a fair amount of attention to the plight of our indigeneous Aboriginal Australians, not to mention the racism and prejudice that still exist today. Witness his disturbing encounter with an elderly gentleman on board an express train. He also gives a (mercifully) brief mention to Pauline Hanson, which he describes as "cerebrally challenged". I couldn't agree more! Although I think the Northern Territory has superseded Queensland as being "madder than cut snakes"! My only regret is that he didn't have enough time to visit Tasmania. I was born in Tassie, and I think he would've been absolutely stunned at the huge difference between the mainland's dry outback, and Tasmania's lush, cool forest (what's left of it, anyway). I think Tassie is the world's best kept secret. Whether he would've enjoyed the laidback, uneventful lifestyle is another matter. I've noticed that some have accused him of favouritism, that his affection for our country has coloured his judgement. The answer I give is, if he likes to visit a country, why shouldn't he be allowed to say so?
Rating:
Summary: Australia all over again
Review: How delightful to make the trip we made in 1975-76 again with the improvements of the last 25 years! It was wonderful to reminisce about our trip and to read someone who loved the country as much as we did. I also learned a lot more about the country than I knew before and it has endeared it to me even more. What time does the next Qantas flight leave? Thank you, Mr. Bill Bryson. Thank you!
| 
